Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1887-08-27
LITTLE 'LlZY.
Her Mysterious Disappearance
and Her Recovery.

Uncle Abe, untidy in person from an
hours employment in the coal cellar,
yet, despite all, the very incarnation
of family dignity, rose from his resting
place by the are walk, and called af-
ter me, as | ran up the steps: ''Marse
Will! Dat bad mans done been here
agin, an he low he gwintcr fotch
Lily wild him mex week.
at is So" affirmed my wife, who
was waiting for me at the door. She
added in an undertonc: Il wish you'd
talk with Abe, and try to reconcile him
to the change"
Noah Peters, the "bad man." was to
Uncle Abe the embodiment of evil. TO
all others, Peters seemed a hard-wOrk-
ing, mild-tempcrcd, and miId-man-
nered negro; but his father-in-law--for
that was the relation which my faith
full old colorod friend held to him
was disposed to consider him an alto
gether worthless character. Nothing
could persuade Uncle Abe that Noah
was fitted to be any thing better in life
than a ''~bothcraUon' to the unfortu-
nate persons whom fate made his asso-
ciates.
To be sure, when Noah and Eliza
were married, Uncle Abe witnessed
the ceremony and took part in the fcs-
t%ivities. Later on, when the mothers
life went ont when little Eliza was born,
he wept with his griet-stricken son-in-
law, and did his Lest to help him bear
the burden. Both he and Aunt Della
opened their hearts to the motherless
babe, and the father and child were
made heartily welcome at the little
homestead which Uncle Abe had toilcd
50 hard to gain.
For three years there was no break
in the ties of mutual esteem which
bound Uncle Abe to Noah. Then the
latter, delighted with the winsomc ways
of his baby. proposed to her grandpar-
ents that he should employ "A house
keeper and take the child TO brighten
his lonely home. Against this step the
old man vigorously protested; and find
ing that, though Noah did not press the
subject, he was still resolved on max
ing the change, Abc's good opinion of
his son-in-law gave place TO something
like aversion.
Hes de most obStinatcst man ! cher
seed" Uncle Abe complained, when
the agitation first began. ''lle can't
say muffin, on'y 'dat's my baby He
don hold nc argument, only he comes
right back onto dat!'
Several months elapsed after Noah
first preached the suggestion which
was so coolly received, and he said lit
tie about the child's removal; but, as
afterwards appeared, he did not abatc
his determination to possess her. Reg
uiarly, on Sunday, Della said, he Wis
itod them, laden with candy for ''his
baby and all of Abe's efforts during
the week did not avail to oblitcrate
from the child's mind a favorable i'm.
preston of her father.
Now, it seemed, the crisis had come,
Noah, having once decided to take little
Eliza to himself, would pursue his pur.
pose with that unflinching pcrtinacity
which is sometimes the characteristic
of ''easy-going' men. 1t was just ant
right, knew, that he should hold hi,
only near and dear one, yet | fcarcc
the effect which the loss of their pc
would have upon her grandparents.
As these thoughts crossed my mind
descended the steps antwcntto Uncl
Abe, who stood still in the attitude o
deep detection. The low seat on tn
tagging, from which he had risen
faced a basement window. Inside
Aunt Della was beating eggs, pausin,
now and then to wipe her eyes.
what does Noah say, Uncle Abe?'
asked.
Abe's rambling answer, given in
weak and wandering voice, was empha
sized with frequent sobs and c%jacul;
tons by listening Della.
ale done says he ain'tgot no call I
wait. De low-down niggers is with
him dat he KANT ia kccr oh his bah,
an he lows he won't STAN it. He g,
Miss Nancy Riggs to work over t h
house, an Lily won't be no harm. |
say, fer gwine home. done tellcd hi
he oughtcr have her be brung up san
way her mudder was, cl'ar OBJ dc me;
niggcrs an de white trash. Den
say his fodder Belonged to Marsc Ra
dolph's folks 'foah lie wab, sam
men DEFY, an he knowcd how
brung up childun. dom see no he
fort; | rcckcn dat baby got ter go"
Dress de little lamb!' sounded Au
DeIia's hollow voice, from the recess
of the pantry, 'ltll jes' bout /
me, l'spect!'
Noah doesn't intend to make
home away from the city, does hep
asked.
''N-no." conceded Abe, as il seem,
somewhat reluctant 10 show the cxi
foundation for his grief. HE gwil
ter move ontcr b street"
isn't that the next street to yc
own?"
at amt furder."
why. then. you can see her We
Often" ! argued. "llisn't as thou
she were TO he taken from Washingt,
Yon musn't lose heart, Uncle Abe.
long " the child is hardly out Of arr
reach. Aunt Della. ! rely on you
help him look At the matter I'M
calmly